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Liquor store reopens after fire damage

Just three weeks after a large fire caused smoke damage to all the inventory, Pete’s House of Spirits will reopen for business Friday.

The fire, which originated in a courtyard behind the building at 1560 North Ave., took place Feb. 21. It caused extreme smoke damage to the store’s liquor, walls and ceiling.

“It caused about $16,000 in damage,” said Pete Martinez, owner. All of the damaged beer was sold to a liquor liquidator or disposed of.

Martinez had to remodel the entire inside of the showroom including new drywall for the ceiling and walls, new carpet and insulation. A new ATM machine was also installed. “It looks completely different now,” he said.

“It’s been tough and stuff to get back on track,” Martinez said, “but it’s just been so amazing the response from our customers so we just want to get back open for them.”

Martinez said that many of his loyal customers have stopped by to offer help and his employees have worked hard to get the store open again. He added that he doesn’t believe the adjacent stores damaged by the fire will ever reopen.

Pete’s House of Spirits will open at 8 a.m. Friday morning and resume normal business hours until midnight.